Funeral Mass for Tekla Meidinger, 86 of Baker, MT will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 3, 2006 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Baker, MT with Father Thomas Tobin Celebrating with special music by Ruth Wang and Debbie Jo Varner. Interment will follow in the Bonnievale Cemetery at Baker, MT with Jim Hufford, Joe Hufford, Ronald Ehman, Robert Ehman, Ray Maier and Steve Bruski as pallbearers.
Visitation will be 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday at Stevenson Funeral Home in Baker with a Rosary and Vigil Service led by Jean Bruski at 7:00 p.m. in the Chapel of the Stevenson Funeral Home.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Stevenson Funeral Home of Baker, MT.
Tekla passed away on Thursday, September 28, 2006 at the Fallon Medical Complex Nursing Home in Baker, MT following a lengthy illness.
Tekla Tkachyk was born on December 8, 1919 to Pete and Eva (Barnaby) Tkachyk in Scobey, MT. She grew up and attended country school 15 miles North of Scobey. As a young child, Tekla rode many horses and loved to cook. She moved to Glendive, MT where she worked for the Northern Pacific Railroad in the Beanery. It was while working at the Beanery she met Ralph Ehman. The two were married in Miles City, MT on October 28, 1947. Three children were born to this union, Ronald, Judy and Robert.
Tekla took great pride in her yard and enjoyed raising beautiful flowers. She always had a crochet hook in her hand and when not busy she made many lovely afghans, doilies and dolls. Tekla loved sharing the crafts she made with her family and friends. She loved going uptown for a “little lunch” and at Tekla’s house the coffee pot was always on!
Ralph passed away on April 10, 1982, and Tekla continued living in Glendive. Later on, Tekla met another man, Leonard Meidinger of Terry, MT. The two began a courtship, which resulted in their marriage on December 16, 1983. Tekla and Leonard lived in Glendive and Terry until Leonard passed away in October of 1998. In 1999, after Leonard’s death, Tekla moved to Baker to be closer to her daughter, Judy and family. While in Baker, Tekla was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church, a member of the Catholic Daughters at St. John’s, a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, a member of the Royal Neighbors and the Fallon Medical Complex Pinkies. She enjoyed playing cards and games with her family and friends as well as attending the Friday night card games at the Senior Center. Her greatest joy in life was for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. To Tekla, her children’s spouses were not “in-laws” but her children as well. Tekla eventually lived with Judy and Jim before entering the Fallon Medical Complex Nursing Home in December 2005.
Tekla is survived by her two sons, Ronald ( Barbara) Ehman, Missoula, MT and Robert Ehman, Pocatello, ID; her daughter, Judy (Jim) Hufford, Baker, MT; three sisters, Irene Richards, Williston, ND, Marge Rathbun, Billings, MT and Annie (Dick) Gaither, Riverton, WY; a special sister-in-law, Merle Ehman, Hesperia, CA; Five grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Pete and Eva, her two husbands, Ralph Ehman and Leonard Meidinger, her two brothers, Carl and Donald Tkachyk, her two sisters, Betty O’Leary and Joan Burgess and her dearly loved granddaughter, Sara Hufford.